Hello again, savvy savers! For this weekends Gardening On A Budget Post, I wanted to share a new project I’ve just started around my home, water starting paper white bulbs!
As any gardener can tell you, one of the most cheerful, uplifting sights in all of gardening is the arrival of Spring Bulbs! And while these hardy beauties only last a short spell, they are amazing in all of their simplicity!
While traditionally, bulbs are prepped and planted in Autumn for Spring arrivals, bulbs can be coaxed into blooming indoors. The required supplies are minimal, the process is simple, and assuming you have bulbs on hand, your cost may in fact be free! The process can also serve as a learning opportunity for the kiddos to both learn about the bulb planting process, as well as to bring a taste of Spring indoors in the winter!
Here’s how to get started:
Materials Needed:
- 3 Spring Bulbs (on hand)
- Water (on hand)
- River Rocks (on hand)
- Glass Vessel With a Large Opening (on hand)
Cost for project: Free!
Here’s the skinny on this project:
- Select three bulbs; while I chose paper white purchased after he holidays for under $1.00, you can pick up bublbs from most retailers, inlcuding the Dollar Tree.
- All bulbs should be stored in cool, dark spaces in your home; temperatures generally between 38 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit. The vegetable bin in your refrigerator is a good place to store bulbs, in brown paper bags,
- To water start bulbs, start by cleaning and drying a glass vessel, or container.
- Take two handfuls of river rocks, pebbles, etc. in the bottom of the container; there must be at least four inches of stones.
- Place your bulb on top of the stones; the pointed ends of the bulbs should point straight up.
- Leave an inch of space between them to allow for growth.
- Add water to the bowl so that the level is beneath the bulb but does not touch it. The pebbles will wick the water upward and feed the bulb, allowing roots to grow into the water, without rotting the base of the bulb.
- Place the bowl in a cool, dark area for an additional four weeks; under the sink is a great area.
- This encourages the roots to develop first, which allows each tulip plant to develop stronger leaves and stems.
- Check your water level weekly, and adjust water levels, or replace water levels, as needed.
- Once you have one inch of bulb growth, move your bulbs to a sunny, warm spot after roots have developed.
- Maintain the water level bi-weekly at this stage, so that it covers the roots but not the bulb.
- Colorful blooms will appear within a few a week at this stage.
- Once bulbs have stopped blooming, they can be planted in ground, traditionally for the next Spring!
As you can see from my paper whites, shown above, this project is simply beautiful in its simplicity!
Do you like growing Spring bulbs? What are your favorites? Please leave me a comment below!
Here’s to gardening,
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